Today: The Poll Tax Peril

The U.S. Senate staged a stately little
theatrical as rigid and rehearsed as a minuet. Designed to impress 1944
voters, the production played five matinees to half-filled galleries.

Solemnly stepping through their paces, the Senators first received the
House-passed Marcantonio bill, which would outlaw the poll tax in eight
Southern states. On cue, bombastic old Tom Connally rose up to shake
his grey-white mane and speak his piece about States' rights. "Because
my own State of Texas does not conduct its affairs as the State of New
York thinks it should conduct them," he declaimed, "these crusaders,
these Sir Galahads, mount...